Ayo Dosunmu has been playing outstanding without Anthony Edwards. Over the past seven games, Ayo has averaged 21.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4 assists, with stellar 53.3/47.2/95.7 shooting splits. Dosunmu is a central reason why the Minnesota Timberwolves are 5-2 without their best player. This has led some fans online to debate whether the Timberwolves should "sell high" on Dosunmu at the deadline.
Before outlining why I disagree with this thinking, I want to acknowledge where these arguments come from. Firstly, the Wolves have a deep guard rotation (especially once Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo return) and a thin frontcourt rotation. With re-signing Jonathan Kuminga being a challenge since the Wolves don't have his Bird Rights, the Wolves could either clear up cap space (and regain some draft capital) or find a replacement for Kuminga. Plus, it's more than fair to suggest that Dosunmu's trade value is at an all-time high.
To be clear, I thoroughly disagree with this line of thinking, but I understand the logic to some extent. In my view, Ayo is an ideal fit with the team, and a deadline move of this magnitude would be rather silly for the Wolves.
The Timberwolves should see what this roster can do at full strength
The Timberwolves aren't title favorites, but they absolutely have a chance to make a championship run. We have only seen Edwards play with this new roster for four games. Why not see what they can do at full strength? It's unclear when exactly Edwards will return, but Jon Krawczynski reported that the belief is that his injury will take more than two months to recover from. As such, this makes him likely to return at some point in January. If they trade Ayo, this would give the Wolves a small sample size with their new roster.
The Timberwolves have the star power, depth, and versatility needed to win at the highest level. It wouldn't be wise for them to trade a top-six player until we see how his team looks in the playoffs. Moreover, if the idea is to trade Ayo for a power forward, wouldn't it make sense to wait until you see what happens with Kuminga? For now, the Timberwolves' frontcourt, if healthy, is more than fine.
Now, if the Wolves lose Kuminga this offseason (which feels likely for cap reasons) and they sorely need a starting power forward, then I'd consider trading Ayo for the right player. Even then, I'd be on the fence at best, but that timing would make more sense. And while his value is sky-high right now, there's no reason to believe that it'll plummet by the summer.
Another issue I have with the idea of trading Dosunmu is that he makes $19.3 million this season and $20.8 million next season. The Timberwolves are already nearing the second apron. With that in mind, what forward are they going to trade for in that price range, and who would be an ideal fit? Finding this player is a lot easier said than done, and frankly, I don't think it's realistic. In reality, if the Timberwolves trade him for a forward, it likely wouldn't be a sell-high.
As for trading him to re-sign Kuminga, that sounds good in theory. Still, the Timberwolves not having Kuminga's Bird Rights could prevent them from re-signing him even if they trade Ayo.
Ayo Dosunmu is an ideal long-term fit with the Timberwolves
Despite his strong play, I feel like many are overlooking Dosunmu's fit with the Timberwolves. Yes, Minnesota has a lot of guards, but it's not uncommon for teams to have success frequently running three-guard lineups, with the Oklahoma City Thunder being the prime example of this roster-building philosophy.
Ayo spot-up shooting, ability to score in transition, connective playmaking, and stout perimeter defense make him an ideal complement to the Wolves' stars. As he's showing right now, he can also handle a scaled-up role. In the case of an off night or injuries, Dosunmu's ability to provide a scoring boost is a major advantage. Nobody wants to hear it, but having some high-end insurance for LaMelo Ball and Edwards is vital.
Simply put, having a player who can thrive both in a complementary role and scale up is a luxury, and it's one that the Wolves shouldn't let go of. Things can always change, but for now Ayo looks like a long-term piece, and it would be a mistake if the Timberwolves were to shop him at the deadline.
Thankfully, despite this debate among fans, I don't see Tim Connelly moving Dosunmu come February.
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